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9 Products for a Better Workspace from NeoCon 2014

It can be slightly amusing that during NeoCon, the massive commercial furniture fair where vendors push solutions for a more serene office environment, the bustling atmosphere is anything but relaxed. Amid the controlled chaos, crowds, and demos, it is possible to find a moment of calm, as well as new workspace solutions that do live up to their billing. We’ve already highlighted some of our favorite finds from this year’s convention, but we also discovered a number of new chairs, desks, and dividers that combine great design and practical improvements for the duly deskbound.

The work of Michigan designer Joey Ruiter was all over the Merchandise Mart this year. One of our favorite examples was his BOLD One adjustable desks, part of an entire system of rectilinear furniture that cuts a clean, low profile.

The push for a healthier, more ergonomic workday means there are more upright desks waiting to stand up and be counted than ever. Humanscale’s new mountable workstation makes it easier to ditch the chair without being saddled with the cost of new office furniture. It’s one of the more simple and straightforward ways to turn your desk into more of a true action office.

Knoll’s showroom was overflowing this year, fully wired with the Bounce app and set up to showcase the brand's "r/evolution" workplace concept. Luckily, the floor was filled with the comfortable new Remix Chair, an upholstered evolution of the Generation chairs.

BuzziSpace products seem tailor-made for a more relaxed start-up environment. Their new conference picnic table features a ridge designed to hold iPads, and their workspace solution, BuzziVille, not only sounds like the next Zynga mobile game, but looks about as comfortable as an executive hoodie, a comfy cocoon of felt perfect for ducking away for a quick meeting. They also offer a wall panel with a small triangular nook, meant to encourage informal meeting throughout the day.

In retrospect, the inspiration for Locale—a bustling high street in London—is literally and figuratively perfect for the collaborative workspace system. Seeking to spark the kind of dynamic interactions that make cities so inspirational and integrated, designers Sam Hecht and Kim Colin of Industrial Facility molded the Locale system in that mold, bridging gaps with multiple points of interaction.

For tools that truly spur innovation, collaboration, and potentially doodling, the MC Squares system of mountable, modular, and portable dry erase boards made an impression. Perfect for sketching and more interactive white boarding exercises, the product appears destined to have a future beyond its Indiegogo campaign.

Today, we kicked off this year’s annual Dwell on Design at the LA Convention Center, which will continue through Sunday, June 26th. Though we’ve been hosting this extensive event for years, this time around is particularly special.